THE Little Hallingbury Grannies Club has, once again, donated very generously to St Clare for Christmas, bringing the total amount of their monetary gifts over the years to almost £3,000.

We thank the club for its on-going support.

Acting Captain Peter Taylor, of Wags, kindly picked the hospice as his chosen charity this year and, as a result, patients will benefit directly from the £700 raised by the Golf Society and an Essex major investigations officer, PC Adrian Tyson, visited the hospice and delivered a cheque for £700, half the funds raised at their annual ball for colleagues and friends.

We are never complacent about the donations received and once again I want to thank our supporters on behalf of all at St Clare Hospice for their on-going practical help.

We are just as grateful for the contents of our newly-dispersed home collecting boxes that, on average, seem to hold around £4.50.

Please ring fundraising on 01279 413590 if you would like a box.

Michael Compton, from Epping, was the lucky winner of the signed Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, from Phyl Crane's raffle drawn at the autumn buffet dance.

He was really chuffed to have won the book and looked forward to reading it.

Harlow Friends of St Clare are already looking forward to those lazy, hazy days of summer fetes.

Phyl is on the lookout for soon-to-be-thrown away golf umbrellas for a new game she has devised as part of her fundraising for the hospice.

She needs six umbrellas, no 7 or no 9 irons and , as many as possible, plastic practice balls.

If you can help, ring Phyl on 01279 424760.

This Saturday (December 8), Peggy is holding her annual Children's Day at the Harlow hospice shop from 10am to 4pm.

Children will be entertained by the staff in fancy dress, encouraged to take part in competitions and games, and they will get the chance to meet Father Christmas.

Do any DIY experts have any clean, unused and spare pieces of 45mm x 20mm timber that can be used as battening?

Ray, our handyman, has run out of drawer space and needs shelving. Please contact either Ray or Julie on 01279 413590 if you can help.

Two Christmas fairs held both been successes. The hospice fair raised £1,035 and the more recent one in Dunmow generated a very pleasing £1,750.

Judy, who organised the event, said it was an excellent day and wishes to thank all those who contributed.

Most of our Light Up A Light Christmas trees are now illuminated, sponsored by many of our supporters in memory of a loved one.

So far, the appeal has raised funds exceeding £6,000 from which our patients will directly benefit.

We would like to thank all those who chose to remember their loved ones in this way.

The Starr Restaurant, Market Square, Dunmow, will have its lighting up ceremony on Friday, December 14, at 7pm.

This occasion will provide the perfect opportunity to visit the new St Clare Hospice shop to buy your last minute Christmas gifts.

Once again, Marina Lawrence held another Country and Western dance recently and matched the £900 that she donated to the hospice last spring when her annual 50s and 60s dance was held.

Several hundred pounds were the results of the raffle alone, brilliant. Thank you to Marina's trust supporters for their help, as always.

December 6, 2001 9:13